Journal

Google and Apple have been locked in an intense chess game for about a decade now. They both have studied each other and built on their strategies year after year hoping to come out on top. Each company has upped its game on more than one occasion fighting for the ultimate prize: primacy over mobile users.

This month Google changed its strategy by releasing Google Duo, a video calling app that sports a clean and simple interface. The 1-to-1 video calling app can be downloaded from Google Play. The most revolutionary feature is the ability for a user to make one-to-one calling between Android phones, and from Android to iPhone, something Apple’s FaceTime was not able (nor willing) to do.

When the app was released this past month Google put out a statement where it was quick to emphasize that “You shouldn’t have to worry about whether your call will connect, or if your friend is using the same type of device as you are”. They also pointed to the fact that almost half of adult users in the US never make video calls. Did Google just knock out Apple’s Queen?

Google wants to steer iPhone users over to Android- we all know this. We also know that Google’s apps are built for Android devices and tend to work better on them so if users get hooked on Google’s main apps, why would they stay loyal to Apple? Google’s new strategy is bold and aggressive so all that is left to see is how Apple will respond.

How do you think this whole thing will play out? Will Google Duo finally be the app by which Google winks at Apple and says “check-mate”?